U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says world powers have a common goal of getting Iran to resume talks about its controversial nuclear program and to halt its uranium enrichment activity.
Speaking after talks with her European and Russian counterparts in Berlin, Rice said all parties are determined to use "available channels and the U.N. Security Council to try to achieve that goal."
A U.N. nuclear agency report expected Thursday is likely to confirm that Iran has expanded its uranium enrichment - a finding which could lead to additional U.N. sanctions against Iran.
The International Atomic Energy Agency report will go to the U.N. Security Council, which had set a 60-day deadline on December 23 for Iran to shut down its controversial nuclear program.
Top Iranian officials say Tehran is ready to negotiate to resolve the nuclear standoff, but will not give up its right to pursue nuclear technology.
Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Wednesday the country's atomic program is important for Iran's "development and honor."
The United States and other major powers suspect Iran is trying to build nuclear weapons, a charge Tehran denies.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.
